Pit bull stands guard over wounded best friend in viral photo

As Atlanta man Michael Mason drove home from church last week, he spotted a pit bull at the side of the road — and realised the sad-eyed dog was standing guard over his fatally wounded companion, who had been hit by a car.

"The look on his face [said] 'Can someone help me?' He was watching over [her] like a guard dog," Mason told WSB News.

The dog was taken to a Fulton County Animal Services shelter, where he was dubbed Herman. Sadly, a vet was unable to save his female friend.

Mason's roadside photograph of Herman went viral after The Walking Dead actress Kylie Szymanski posted it to her Facebook page imploring fans to help the pit bull find a new home.

"He is alone and scared and sad in a local shelter... Pit bulls are always the first to be killed in a shelter but I know they are the best," Szymanski wrote.

Herman the pit bull (Fulton County Animal Services/Facebook)

Fulton County Animal Services staff aren't sure of Herman's history, though they believe he's about two years old and that he was raised in a home because of his friendly nature.

Herman is yet to be adopted, but staff hope to find him a new home soon so he can stop mourning his friend.

"[Pit bulls] do feel that companionship and when somebody is gone they miss them,” staff member Kerry Moyers-Horton told WSB News.